Page 87 of One Spicy Summer

"I’mgladyou said that. Because boy, do I have a real treat for you." He claps his hands like an overexcited child. I want to throw up.

"What’s with the Disney channel attitude?" I ask flatly.

He beams. "Today’s the day you get out of here, right?" I nod reluctantly. "Instead of going to some stuffy rehab, you’re coming tomyplace."

I cock my head and shoot him a look that could curdle milk. "I’m sorry, did you just say I’ll be living withyou?"

He shifts on his feet, glancing around like the walls might save him. "Well, yeah. In a nutshell. That’s what it means. And no, you don’t get a say. Decision’s made. My word is bond."

"Oh,isit now?""Yep," he says, grinning wide enough to punch.

"Boy, you have lost your damn mind," I hiss.

His eyes flash dark. "Boy?" he growls, low and dangerous."You’re acting like an uncultured swine," I say sweetly, barely holding back a laugh when I see his jaw tick.

"Uncultured swine? Somebody’s been watching too muchToy Story," he barks a laugh, and somehow it both irritates and comforts me.

Just as I open my mouth to roast him again, Rafe and Agatha stroll in. "Finally," I huff. "Talk some sense into him. He’s kidnapping me or some shit." I expect backup. I get dead silence. "You guys deaf?!" I snap.

Agatha just folds her arms. "Girl. First of all, fuck you. Second, you’re going home with him. No, isn’t an option."

Traitor.

"I’m not going anywhere with him."

"The fuck you’re not," Agatha snaps. "You said it yourself, Keifer’s still out there. He finds out you survived? You’re dead. End of story."

My left eye starts twitching.

"You know what you're all about to do, "

"Let me guess," Ry cuts in, deadpan. "Piss you off?" He smirks.Asshole."Well, tough titties, Princess. You’re going to my place. And newsflash: it’s not a vacation. You’ll work your ass off getting better. Therapy. Rehab. Physical therapy. Hard shit."

Agatha picks up where he leaves off. "Allof it. For you, and for my nephew," she says softly, voice catching.

And just like that, my rage fizzles into despair."I hate all of you," I whisper, my throat burning. "Get the fuck out."

But no one moves.No one even flinches.

"Hate us now," Rygaard says, voice low, steady, "but by the time this is over, you’ll know exactly who to hate. Keifer. My father. All the ones who fucked you up. And me? I’m not done with them yet. Not by a long shot."

His promise hangs heavy in the air, and for once, I have no snark left.

"Ry… whatever you got going on with your father, leave me out of it. I’ve been through enough."

"You have," he says. "And now, you let me handle it. I don’t give a shit how much you kick and scream, Presley. In the end… Ialwaysget what I want."

His eyes blaze with determination.Challenge accepted, asshole.

"Fine," I snap. "Go full caveman, see if I care. I’m not your woman."

"You are," he says simply. "Just gonna take you a minute to realize it."

Bloody. Fucking. Hell.I might really be in trouble.

A gagging noise cuts the tension, Agatha, naturally. "If you two are done eye-fucking, let’s roll," she groans.

I turn to Rafe, nervous. "Hey, big brother," I say softly. He’s been ice-cold to me since I stole from Mom and Dad. Kicked me out on my ass. Rightfully so. "I know I didn’t amount to much," I say. "But maybe… maybe I’ll surprise you." Rafe says nothing. Just stares at me, unreadable.

---